Customizing Patient Diet Lists by Downloading Mainframe Data to a Local Computer Network

Abstract

Registered Dietitians (RDs), like nurses, doctors and other patient care givers in the hospital environment, rely on the gathering and processing of information and data as an essential component of their clinical practice. Computers can streamline this process by freeing the care giver from the repetitive task of gathering data from multiple sources RDs at a large teaching hospital have traditionally relied on diet lists produced from the hospital mainframe Diet Order Entry System (DOES). These lists contain basic information such as the patient's name, location, current diet order, information regarding snacks and whether a nutritional consultation is required. This information is then supplemented by additional data collected by the RD from other mainframe computer databases and medical records.Mainframe diet lists have recently been replaced by customized diet lists. The Food and Nutrition Services (FANS) department developed a program to download, combine, sort and filter data from several mainframe computer applications in order to build a single database on the department's local network of personal computers. Applications such as the DOES, the Patient Management System, and the Pharmacy Medication Order System are “tapped” in order to include the patient's registration number, birth and admission dates, the medical service, the nature of the RD consult, and the diagnosis.The RDs worked together to define a format for the presentation of this data. They found that changing fonts in the printed report to highlight critical information and emphasizing messages by the addition of graphic images made the report easier to use. The flexibility of having a database on the network also allows the FANS department to filter data needed by a specific RD, such as a list of all patients on tube feedings or a list of all patients followed by the trauma service. In the near future, data will be incorporated into the database to identify medications that have significant nutrient interactions so they can be noted and flagged on the diet list in accordance with the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.The customized diet list enables RDs to have relevant information, such as admission date, mode of feeding, and diagnosis, contained in one source. This increases efficiency and productivity and streamlines the prioritization of daily work.